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Longmont celebrates legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Silver Creek High School students' service projects offer opportunity to act

By Whitney BryenLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
01/20/2014 08:48:19 PM MST

Updated:
01/20/2014 08:51:34 PM MST

Longmont officials, students and residents celebrated the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday with dancers, singers and calls for community service.

About 50 people gathered for the city's third annual celebration at Silver Creek High School, where eight Latino dancers from the Longmont Senior Center twirled brightly colored skirts across the stage at Silver Creek High School.

Singers, including a gospel choir, also performed.

St. Vrain Valley School District superintendent Don Haddad praised the Longmont community for its compassionate response to September's devastating floods.

"The flood wreaked havoc on this community but we also saw people coming together to help one another," Haddad said. "I would love to see that kind of response without a flood."

Baile de Mi Tierra dancers perform Monday at Silver Creek High School, where Longmont residents gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
(Matthew Jonas/Times-Call)

Longmont resident Glenda Robinson, who participated in civil rights marches in the '60s, including King's last march in 1968, reminded residents of King's ideals.

"I encourage you to find ways to keep his dreams alive," Robinson said.

The message was clear: King's legacy is about equality for everyone, not just blacks.

The Rev. Hansford Vann from the Second Baptist Church in Boulder recited part of King's "I Have a Dream" speech before students took the stage for the final call to action.

Nine students declared on white boards the values they would live by, including compassion, peace and kindness.

Students from Silver Creek's Leadership Academy, who are working on capstone projects during their senior year, exemplified ways to take action in King's honor. A video highlighted projects that address social justice, nuclear weapons and clean water in South America.

After the event, attendees could visit tables with more information about those and other projects, and pledge to follow in King's footsteps stand up for what they believe in.

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